Imaging device

ABSTRACT

When sending photographic image data obtained in an electronic camera  1  via a communication interface  42  to a radio telephone line of a PDC  3,  a PHS  4,  etc., an RISC-CPU  11  converts the image data to data having a configuration allowing communication and further converts by software processing the communication-allowing configuration data to data corresponding to the type of the radio telephone line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to imaging devices and, more particularly,to imaging devices capable of transmitting and receiving image datathrough a telephone line.

Recently, techniques of transmitting and receiving digital data throughsuch transmission route as a telephone line are well known in the art.Also, it has been a recent trend for establishing techniques fortransmitting and receiving photographic image data obtained with anelectronic camera through such a telephone line. Such data communicationis mostly realized by connecting a modem or like adaptor to theelectronic camera and connecting the camera via the adaptor to thetelephone line.

In the meantime, it has also been a recent trend for extensively usingradio portable telephone sets such as so-called digital portabletelephone sets (hereinafter referred to as PDCs) and PHSs. Thesetelephone sets are all radio sets with their portability as a greatfeature. In view of recent electronic cameras which are mostly used asportable sets, the radio telephone lines constitute an optimum imagedata transmission route.

An example of the construction of a prior art image transmitting systemfor sending the data of an electronic camera to a radio portabletelephone set will now be briefly described.

FIG. 7 shows such an image transmission system, in which a PDC 103 isconnected via a PC card 102 to an electronic camera 101.

As shown in the Figure, the PC card 102 includes a communicationinterface 122, which is constructed as hardware and includes a digitalerror correction circuit 122 a, high speed synchronous serials RX andTX, low speed asynchronous serials RX and TX, a function of processingtransmission and reception signals and a predetermined interface (I/F).The PC card 102 also includes a CISC-CPU 121 for controlling thecommunication interface 122. The PC card 102 is connected by a PC cardheader 113 to the electronic camera 101, and it further includes aconnector 123 to which the PDC 103 is connected.

The electronic camera 101 includes a RISC-CPU 111 having the role ofcontrolling the entire system, and a connector interface 111 forconnection to the PC card 102.

In the prior art image transmission system having the aboveconstruction, only a particular type of radio telephone set can beconnected. Up to date, PDCs and PHSs are well known in the art asdifferent types of radio telephone sets. These different types oftelephone sets, however, can not be used commonly as digital datatransmitting means. That is, the individual types of telephone sets areused with PC cards having different digital error correction circuits,and it is thus necessary to change the PC card to be used in dependenceon the type of radio telephone set that is connected.

In the meantime, such a PC card can serve as an adaptor peculiar orexclusive to the connected telephone set, so that it may have a soleexclusive digital error correction circuit. The circuit is thus realizednot as software but as hardware.

Concerning the electronic camera, a recently proposed one includes acommunication interface having high speed synchronous serials RX and TX,low speed asynchronous serials RX and TX and a function of processingtransmission and reception control signals.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an image transmission system using such anelectronic camera, in which a PDC 203 is connected via a PC card 202 tothe electronic camera 201.

As shown, the electronic camera 201 includes a communication interface212 having high speed synchronous serials RX and TX, low speedsynchronous serials RX and TX and a function of processing transmissionand reception signals. The electronic camera 201 also includes anRISC-CPU 211 for controlling the communication interface 212.

The PC card 202 is connected by a PC card header 213 to the electroniccamera 201, and includes a connector 224 to which the PDC 203 isconnected. The PC card 202 further includes an interface 222 connectedto the communication interface 212 of the electronic camera 201, a dataprocessor IC 223 (i.e., digital error correction circuit constructed ashardware) for the PDC and CISC-CPU 221 for controlling the interface 222and the IC 223.

Again in the image transmission system having the above construction,like the image transmission system as shown in FIG. 7, only a particulartype of radio telephone set can be connected. That is, it is necessaryto change the PC card to be used in dependence on the type of telephoneset that is connected.

In the meantime, the PC card 202 can serve as an adaptor peculiar orexclusive to the type of the connected telephone set, so that it mayhave a sole exclusive digital error correction circuit. The circuit isthus realized not as software but as hardware.

While the image data transmitting and receiving system utilizing radiotelephone line is convenient as described above, the PDC and the PHS arebased on quite different data transmitting systems, and common propertyis lacking with respect to modems connected to the line. In addition, inview of the digital data transmitting system, the above radio telephonelines are different from the usual wired telephone line, and hence frommodems connected thereto.

The electronic camera user thus has to prepare an adaptor correspondingto the type of telephone line (i.e., either wired or radio, or portabletelephone set or PHS) that is utilized. Likewise, each communicationcarrier (i.e., PDC, PHS, etc.) requires an exclusive adopter (i.e, PCcard). The PC card, although recently being on a reducing size trend,extremely spoils the portability of a portable camera when mounted onthe body thereof. In addition, it is necessary to prepare an expensiveexclusive PC card for each type of communication carrier, which isextremely uneconomical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention was made in view of these problems, and it has an objectof providing an imaging device capable of reliable transmission andreception of image data irrespective of the type of telephone line thatis utilized.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedan imaging device comprising: a discriminating means for discriminatingtype of a radio telephone line connected to the device; a firstconverting means for converting photographic or recorded image data of ascene to communication data; and a second converting means forconverting, at the time of image data transmission, the communicationdata in correspondence to the discriminated type of radio telephone lineand converting, at the time of image data reception, received data tocommunication data capable of being recognized by the device incorrespondence to the type of radio telephone line.

The second converting means includes a memory means with a plurality ofstored error correction programs corresponding to respective differentradio telephone lines, the error correction programs contributing to thecorrection of the digital values of communication data obtained in thefirst converting means.

The second converting means further includes a means for selecting aspecified error correction program corresponding to the discriminatedtype of radio telephone line from the memory means.

The discriminating means discriminates a telephone line connected to thedevice to be a radio telephone line or a wired telephone line, andoutputs, when the connected telephone line is discriminated to be aradio telephone line, the type of the connected radio telephone line.

The imaging device further comprises: a serial interface functioning aspart of the communication interface when a connected telephone line isdiscriminated to be a radio telephone line and functioning as a wiredtelephone line interface when the connected telephone is discriminatedto be a wired telephone line; and a switching means for switching theserial interface according to the output of the discriminating means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is providedan imaging device comprising: an electronic imaging means for convertinga scene image to an image signal; an image processing means forconverting the image signal obtained in the electronic imaging means toimage data; a communication processing means for converting the imagedata obtained in the image processing means to data having aconfiguration allowing communication; and a memory means with dataconversion programs stored therein for being used to convert, at thetime of data transmission, the communication-allowing configuration dataobtained in the communication processing means to data conforming to thetype of a pertinent telephone line and also convert, at the time of datareception, data different in dependence on the type of the telephoneline to data having a configuration conforming to the communicationprocessing means.

The memory means stores a plurality of different data conversionprograms corresponding to respective different types of telephone lines,and the imaging device includes: a connecting means for connecting thedevice to a telephone line; a discriminating means for discriminatingthe type of a telephone line connected thereto via the connecting means;and a selecting means for selecting a particular data conversion programamong the plurality of data conversion programs stored in the memorymeans in correspondence to the discrimination result in thediscriminating means.

The data conversion programs are error correction programs.

The imaging device further comprises: a line connecting means forconnecting a telephone line to the device; an external device connectingmeans for connecting an external device to the device; a checking meansfor checking the connecting states of the telephone line connectingmeans and the external device connecting means; a serial interface forpermitting data communication via the telephone line or datacommunication with the external device; and a switching means forswitchedly connecting the telephone line connecting means and theexternal device connecting means to the serial interface according tothe result of checking in the checking means.

Other objects and features will be clarified from the followingdescription with reference to attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an electroniccamera in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the construction in the case when a personalcomputer or a usual wired telephone line to the embodiment of theelectronic camera;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating operations of communication ofphotographic or recorded image data in the embodiment of the electroniccamera by utilizing a usual wired telephone line or a radio telephoneline of a PDC, a PHS, etc.;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating operations of communication ofphotographic or recorded image data in the embodiment of the electroniccamera by utilizing a usual wired telephone line or a radio telephoneline of a PDC, a PHS, etc;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the transmission mode setting operationin the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a routine of photographic image recordingin the electronic camera;

FIG. 7 is an example of the construction of a prior art imagetransmitting system for sending the data of an electronic camera to aradio portable telephone set; and

FIG. 8 is a view showing a prior art image transmission system in whicha PDC is connected via a PC card to an electronic camera.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an electroniccamera in an embodiment of the invention. Features of the electroniccamera embodying the invention will now be briefly described.

The electronic camera 1 as shown in FIG. 1 has a communication functionof transmitting and receiving the data to and from a personal computeror a wired telephone line or a radio telephone line (i.e., so-calledportable telephone set (PDC) 3 or PHS 4). Specifically, the electroniccamera 1 has serial connectors 43 and 44. The serial connector 43 can beconnected to radio telephone lines of the PDC 3, the PHS 4, etc. fortransmitting and receiving digital data via these radio telephone lines.The serial connector 44 can be connected to a personal computer, wiredtelephone line modem (see FIG. 2), etc. for transmitting and receivingdigital data to and from the personal computer and so forth. Theconnection of the serial connector 43 to the PDC 3 or the PHS 4 and theconnection of the serial connector 44 to the personal computer, etc. aremade by using respective predetermined cables as will be described laterin details.

The construction of the electronic camera 1 having the above featureswill now be described.

The electronic camera 1 comprises a lens 16, a CCD 17, an amplifier 18,an A/D converter 19, a lens controller 15 and a RAM 14 as means for ascene image into an image signal under control of an RISC-CPU 11 andimage processing means for converting the image signal thus obtained toimage data.

The electronic camera 1 further comprises a sensor 20 for lightintensity measurement and distance measurement, a controller (i.e.,AF/AE circuit) 21, a liquid crystal monitor 24 for displayingphotographic or recorded image, a monitor interface 22, an operation keyset 23 a for causing predetermined operations of the electronic camera1, an LCD 23 b for displaying various items, a CISC-CPU 12 forcontrolling the operation key set 23 a, the LCD 23 b and other circuitsrequiring processing at relatively low rates, a D/A converter 27 foroutputting a video signal to an external display, a video signal outputterminal 33, a memory card removably mounted for storing photographicdata obtained with the electronic camera 1, a memory card interface 28,a battery 30 as a power supply for the electronic camera 1, an externalpower supply terminal 34 for using an external power supply and a DC/DCconverter 31. These components are well known in the art and the same asthose provided in ordinary electronic cameras, and they are notdescribed in details.

In the electronic camera 1, the RISC-CPU 11 controls communicationprocessing, which converts the image data obtained as a result ofconversion in the image processing means to the data having aconfiguration allowing communication, according to predetermined datastored in the ROM 13. In the ROM 13 are also stored programs concerningvarious controls of the camera. In the ROM 13 are further stored digitalerror correction programs corresponding to different types of radiotelephone lines (such as those of the PDC 3, the PHS 4, etc.).

The electronic camera 1 still further comprises an UART (i.e., serialinterface) 25 for transmitting and receiving the image data or likedigital data to and from an external unit, such as a personal computeror a wired telephone line, a communication interface 42 for transmittingthe digital data to radio telephone lines of the PDC 3, the PHS 4, etc.,an UART switch 41 for switching the UART 25, a ±12-V converter 26 forcommunication with a personal computer, etc., a serial connector 43,which is a 16-pin connector to be connected to a radio telephone like,and a serial connector 44, which is a 9-pin connector to be connected toa personal computer, etc.

The communication interface 42 is provided for transmitting andreceiving data to and from a radio telephone line of the PDC 3, the PHS4, etc. under control of the RISC-CPU 11, and it has high speedsynchronous serials RX and TX and a function of processing transmissionand reception control signals. The communication interface 42 also hasfunctions of detecting the type of carrier (i.e., the PDC (PCD) 3 or thePHS 4) connected to the serial connector 4.3 and sending out thedetection result of the carrier type (i.e., PCD or PHS) to the RISC-CPU11.

In the embodiment of the electronic camera 1, the processing of signalsof low speed asynchronous serials RX and TX is undertaken not by thecommunication interface 42 but by the UART 25. More specifically, when acarrier (i.e., a radio telephone set) is connected to the serialconnector 43, it is detected by the serial connector 43 and thecommunication interface 42, and the UART switch 41 is switched toconnect the UART 25 to the communication interface 42 under control ofthe RISC-CPU 11, which receives the detection result. The UART 25 thusprovides the function of low speed asynchronous signal processing, whilethe communication interface 42 provides the function of high speedsynchronous signal processing. In other words, the communicationinterface 42 and the UART 25 share the function of the datacommunication interface. This arrangement permits reducing the size andcost of the communication interface 42.

As described above, when a carrier (i.e., the PDC 3 or the PHS 4) isconnected to the serial connector 43, the UART. 25 functions as part ofthe communication interface. Without any carrier connected to he serialconnector 43, however, the UART 25 serves as an ordinary UART for apersonal computer or a wired telephone line. Specifically, when apersonal computer 5 or a modem 6 (for wired telephone line) is connectedto the serial connector 44 without any carrier connected to the serialconnector 43, the UART switch 42 is switched to connect the UART 25 tothe serial connector 44 under control of the RISC-CPU 11.

As described above, digital error correction programs are stored in theROM 13 to be controlled by the RISC-CPU 11. As the digital errorcorrection programs, those corresponding to all the different types ofcarriers (i.e., PDC 3, PHS 4, etc.) which can be connected to the serialconnector 43 are prepared. Thus, data conversion corresponding to thetype of radio telephone line (i.e., carrier) connected to the serialconnector 43 is realized as a software process.

In the ROM 13 are also stored processing data concerning usual cameracontrols as well as the recording and reproduction of JPEG data. In thisembodiment, the above digital error correction programs are stored inaddition to these data. Thus, the digital error correcting functionwhich is normally provided by hardware, can be efficiently executed assoftware processing.

While in this embodiment the processing of the signals of the low speedasynchronous serials RX and TX are left to the UART 25, this is by nomeans limitative, and it is possible to left the communication interface42 be in charge of this processing as-well.

Usually, the PDC 3 or the like has sole digital interface for the voice.That is, a predetermined process is necessary for transmitting the imagedata. In this embodiment of the electronic camera 1, such a processprogram is also stored in the ROM 13, thus providing a softwareprocessing function.

The serial connector 43 has the role of a radio telephone set connector,to which the PDC 3 and the PHS 4 can be connected, and which has afunction of detecting type of connected radio telephone set, such as thePDC 3 or the PHS 4.

In this embodiment, the type of carrier (i.e., radio telephone line)connected to the serial connector 43 can be discriminated bydiscriminating the type of the carrier side connector connected to theserial connector 43. More specifically, a cable with a PDC connector 61is provided for connecting the PDC 3, and a cable with a PHS connector62 is provided for connecting the PHS 4. The cables are selectively usedin dependence on the type of radio telephone set used, thus permittingthe discrimination of the type of line.

Specifically, different ground pins are provided for the connectors 61and 62, thus permitting electric discrimination. In addition, a commonground pin is provided for the connectors 61 and 62 to permit a check asto whether any carrier is connected to the serial connector 43.

The function of communication between the electronic camera 1 and eithera personal computer or a wired telephone line will now be brieflydescribed.

As shown in FIG. 2, by connecting the personal computer 5 to the serialconnector 44, it is possible to transmit photographic or recordeddigital image data. Alternatively, by connecting the modem 6 having thenormal function, it is possible to obtain digital data communicationbetween the electronic camera 1 and the wired telephone line via themodem 6.

While the embodiment of the electronic camera 1 has a communicationfunction utilizing a wired telephone line, the communication is allowedto proceed according to data stored in the ROM 13 under control of theRISC-CPU 11. Specifically, it is assumed that the modem 6 is connectedto the serial connector 44 for connection thereof to a usual wiredtelephone line and a communication state is brought about by theoperation key set 23 a or the like. Under this condition, the RISC-CPU11 executes various processes such as the setting of a predeterminedcommunication modem negotiation with destination of the communicationand protocol switching for data transfer according to the data stored inthe ROM 13. The RISC-CPU 11 further executes data compression and othercontrols. These communication procedures are well known in the art, andare not described here.

Operations concerning the communication of the embodiment of the imagingsystem having the above construction will now be described withreference to the flow chart of FIGS. 3 to 5. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts illustrating operations in the communication of photographic orrecorded image data of the electronic camera 1 by utilizing the usualradio telephone line and a radio telephone lines such as those of thePDC 3, the PHS 4, etc. The operations are shown as a control routineexecuted by the RISC-CPU 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the user selects an image data transmissionmode by operating the operation key set 23 a in the “on” state of thepower supply of the electronic camera 1 (step S1), the RISC-CPU 11controls circuitry pertinent to various settings concerning thetransmission mode as shown in FIG. 5. The user can set an “independenttransmission” mode, an “auto transmission” mode, an “auto reception”mode, etc. for image data transmission with the operation key set 23 a,the LCD 23 b, etc (step S31). The user can also register the name ofdestination, telephone number, type of telephone line, etc. (step S32).

Referring back to FIG. 3, after the various transmission mode settingoperations, the RISC-CPU 11 of the electronic camera 1 checks whetherany carrier, such as the PDC 3, the PHS 4, etc., has been connected tothe serial connector 43 (step S2). In this check, the PDC 3 or the PHS 4is electrically detected as such when the corresponding one of theconnectors 61 and 62 is connected to the serial connector 43.

When it is detected in the step S2 that a certain carrier is connected,the RISC-CPU 11 executes step S22 (FIG. 4) of discriminating the type ofthe connected carrier. In this check, the connector connected to theserial connector 43 can be electrically discriminated to be theconnector 61 of the PDC 3 or the connector 62 of the PHS 4.

In dependence on the type of carrier connected to the serial connector43 as discriminated in the step S22, the RISC-CPU 11 executes eitherstep S23 or S24, and then executes step S25. In the step S25, theRISC-CPU 11 switches the UART 25 according to the result of the carrierdiscrimination. Then, the RISC-CUP 11 executes dialing and lineconnection (step S26) and a data transmitting/receiving process (stepS27) in a sequence as stored in the ROM 13.

Subsequently, the RISC-CPU 11 discriminates the type of the connectedcarrier once again (step S28), and then executes either step S29 or S30with the transfer protocol, digital error correction and line typecorresponding to the discriminated carrier type. Referring back to FIG.3, when data transmission has been completed (step S10), an end isbrought to the routine.

When it is found in the step S2 that no carrier (i.e., radio telephoneset) is connected to the serial connector 43, the RISC-CPU 11 checkswhether any personal computer or the like is connected to the serialconnector 44 and also checks whether the connected carrier, if any, is apersonal computer or the wired telephone line via a modem (step S3).

When it is found in the step S3 that a personal computer is connected,no communication on telephone line is made, and the RISC-CPU 11 executessteps S4 and S5 of predetermined processes of error detection and errordisplay, respectively, thus bringing an end to the routine.

When it is found in the step S3 that a modem is connected, the RISC-CPU11 switches the UART 25 (step S36), executes dialing and line connection(step S27), and executes a data transmitting/receiving process (stepS8). The RISC-CPU 11 then executes a predetermined process of modemconnection (step S9), and then completes the data transmission (stepS10), thus bringing an end to the routine.

A routine of photographic image recording in the electronic camera 1will now be briefly described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.6.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the user selects a recording mode with theoperation key set 23 a in the “on” state of the power supply of theelectronic camera 1 (step S41), the RISC-CPU 11 waits for turning-on ofa first release switch (not shown) (step S42). When the first releaseswitch is turned on, the RISC-CPU 11 executes auto focusing and autoexposure by controlling the light intensity/distance measurement sensor20 and the AF/AE circuit 21 (steps S43 and S44).

Subsequently, the RISC-CPU 11 waits for turning-on of a second releaseswitch (not shown) (step S45). When the second release switch is turnedon, the RISC-CPU 11 controls picking-up of a scene image in the CCD 17,conversion of the image signal thus obtained to image data and storingthereof in the RAM 14. (step S46). Then, the RISC-CPU 11 appropriatelyexecutes an image processing and an image compression processing (stepsS47 and S48), and then causes storing of image data thus obtained in thememory card 29 (step S49).

As has been shown, with the embodiment of the imaging system it ispossible to provide an imaging device capable of sending the digitaldata of an electronic camera on a radio telephone line by merelydiscriminating the type of the carrier side connector connected to theserial connector 43, and does not require preparation of expensive andlarge size PC cards or the like for different types of radio telephonelines, so that it is economical as well as being excellent in mobility.

While in the embodiment the type of a radio telephone line (of eitherPDC 3 or PHS 4) connected to the serial connector 43 is automatically(i.e., electrically) discriminated from the corresponding one of thecarrier side connectors 61 and 62 connected to the serial connector 43,this is by no means limitative, and it is also possible to permit manualswitching.

As has been described in the foregoing, according to the invention it ispossible to provide an imaging device capable of reliable transmittingand receiving image data irrespective of the type of telephone line thatis utilized.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention. The matterset forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings isoffered by way of illustration only. It is therefore intended that theforegoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. An imaging device including: a) a connectorcomponent adapted to handle communications with a wirelesscommunications link of a first type and a wireless communications linkof a second type; b) a discrimination device adapted to determine a typeof wireless communications link coupled with the imaging device; and c)a data converter adapted to convert image data using a determination ofthe discrimination device.
 11. The image device of claim 10 wherein theconnector component is a serial connector.
 12. The image device of claim10 wherein the wireless communications link of a first type is a firsttype of radio telephone link and the wireless communications link of thesecond type is a second type of radio telephone link.
 13. The imagedevice of claim 10 wherein the discrimination device includes at leastone connector element of the connector component.
 14. The image deviceof claim 10 wherein the discrimination device includes two connectorelements of the connector component.
 15. The image device of claim 10wherein the data converter is adapted to use a selected one of aplurality of stored conversion programs to convert the image data. 16.The image device of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of storedconversion programs is a different error correction program.
 17. Theimage device of claim 10 wherein the data converter includes a memorydevice storing a plurality of stored conversion programs to convertimage data, and a controller adapted to select one of the plurality ofstored conversion programs using a determination of the discriminationdevice.
 18. The image device of claim 17 wherein each of the pluralityof stored conversion programs is a different error correction program.19. The image device of claim 10 further comprising: d) a secondconnector component adapted to handle communications from a wiredcommunications line, wherein the discrimination device is furtheradapted to determine whether a wired communications link is coupled withthe imaging device, or a type of wireless communications link coupledwith the imaging device; e) a switch adapted to enable communicationseither with one of the wireless communications links, or a wiredcommunications link; and f) a controller adapted to control a state ofthe switch using a determination of the discrimination device.